Publishing Green
Where We Are Coming From
RIS Publications, the publisher of Russian Life magazine, was founded in 1990 on the principle that paying attention to international issues matters. While U.S.-Russian relations and the history and society of the world’s largest country are important, there is no larger international issue than the health of this planet. We believe that all magazines - not just those focused on environmental issues - should be published with as small an environmental impact ("footprint") as possible.
The 1% Difference |
In 2006, RIS committed to printing its magazine on paper with Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) content, while retaining our high standards for print quality. We worked with our printer and moved to a 10% PCR stock, despite a significant cost premium. At the time, this was the only coated PCR stock our printer carried.
In July 2007, we decided to shift the printing of Russian Life to a new magazine printer. A huge factor in our decision-making was that printer's (Ovid Bell Press, in Fulton, MO — founded 1924) commitment to green publishing. As a result:
- the inside pages of the magazine are (starting with the September/October 2007 issue) printed on 100% coated PCR paper (Cyclus Print, produced in Denmark, at a plant that is very green and fueled by biomass — note the several prestigious European marks this paper carries, below);
- the cover is printed on 10% PCR stock (Fortune Gloss);
- OBP uses agricultural-based inks and recycles ink waste for use as fuel in cement kilns. OBP also recycles used printing plates for the aluminum and recycles its paper waste;
- we will, each year, save 532 trees, 318 million BTUs of energy, halve our greenhouse gases and solid waste production. Read the full comparison of our old and new paper stocks impact here;
- our magazine is printed direct to plate, which means no use of film to create plates; we also use digital photography almost exclusively.
Where We Are Going
We are a small company, but one sincerely concerned about our impact on the environment. Therefore:
- By the end of 2007, all of our operational material (letterheads, marketing material, renewal notices, envelopes, etc.) will be printed on paper with the highest recycled and PCR content possible,* and with agricultural-based inks where possible;
- We will purchase only 100% recycled paper for our office paper (laser-printing and copying needs);
- All new books, maps or publications we produce will be published on paper with the highest recycled and PCR content possible,* with agricultural-based inks; a possible exception to this will be short-run digital publications, which are environmentally-advantageous by virtue of the fact that product is printed only to demand;
- We will continue to practice waste-reduction and smart recycling practices with regard to all office waste;
- By the end of 2008, our company will be carbon-neutral in all its operations (to the extent we can calculate our remaining carbon footprint with some certainty).
We welcome feedback from readers, clients, and persons and companies which have assistance and advice to offer us in this transition. While we realize that our small company’s changes will not reverse global warming or staunch the relentless depletion of natural resources, our example does show that even a small company with limited resources can, through research and commitment, make the changes necessary to operate in an environmentally responsible manner.
* We word this carefully ("the highest recycled and PCR content possible") for the time being. Research into potential paper stocks is ongoing. To date, we have found that PCR stock is hard to come by and not perfectly verifiable. Our immediate goal is a minimum 30% PCR stock on all the above items, if we can find printers close enough to us geographically that stock this. Our long-term goal is 100% PCR content stock on all items we produce. Currently our letterhead, renewal notices and envelopes can be printed on 30% PCR.
